That Jones AT&T Stadium has lost some of its mojo might be reflected in the fact 6,000 tickets remained for the game on Wednesday — and last Friday 11,000 remained 24 hours before the home opener.

Tech noseguard Jackson Richards, encouraged by the crowd enthusiasm for last week’s game against Stephen F. Austin, would love to see Tech fans — the students in particular — revive the intimidating atmosphere from game days not long past.

“I hope they get as rowdy as possible,” Richards said. “That’s what we’re known for in Lubbock is the rowdy crowd, so I hope they don’t hold anything back. I want to see as many painted faces as I can see. That’s pretty fun.”

Announced attendance for Kliff Kingsbury’s home head-coaching debut five days ago was 54,086, with a good bit of game-day walk-up. That included what Tech officials said was a record student attendance of more than 15,000.

“I definitely know they’ll be back out,” wide receiver Bradley Marquez said. “They’re excited as much as we are. Probably not as focused on school as they should be, but we’re all excited about this game and know they are.”

Tech might well need all the help it can get to make the difference against TCU, a 3-point favorite.

TCU gave then-No. 12 LSU a good game in a season-opening 37-27 loss, getting within 30-27 midway through the fourth quarter.

The Horned Frogs had no trouble winning away from Amon Carter Stadium last year, going 4-1 in Big 12 road games. They won at Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia and Texas.

Also relevant to today’s game, TCU is 8-5 in short-week games since Gary Patterson became head coach in 2001.

Tech beat TCU last year in Fort Worth 56-53 in triple overtime with Seth Doege throwing seven touchdown passes, including three to Eric Ward and one to Jakeem Grant, returning receivers who’ll try to exploit the Horned Frogs again today.

They’ll be doing it with a different quarterback. Tech freshman Baker Mayfield leads the Big 12 in multiple categories, including total offense and touchdown passes, but today he faces a bigger test.

TCU boasts the returning Big 12 defensive player of the year in end Devonte Fields, a Thorpe Award candidate in cornerback Jason Verrett and talented safeties led by Sam Carter.

“You turn them on on tape and there are no weaknesses,” Kingsbury said. “They attack all game. We’ll have to play our best game to try to protect Baker.”